I got here just as the Giants’ clubhouse was opening. What it lacks in luxury compare to the Diamondbacks’ palace out at Salt River, it makes up for in tranquility. Bruce Bochy doesn’t need to bring in Navy Seals to teach the Giants how to deal with it. They’ve dealt with it. They’re the champs and they know it. Random observations:

Brian Wilson walked into the clubhouse right behind me. He was drinking a Starbucks and holding a folded USA Today. I would have expected absinthe and some anarchist tract. Either his carrying of the symbols of the corporate bourgeoisie are part of an ironic put-on or else he’s not quite the loose cannon he pretends to be.

But don’t worry: Wilson was later seen giving an interview to a print reporter, sitting on a metal bleacher seat in a still-chilly stadium while wearing his underwear and t-shirt, so he’s still wacky.

The lineup had just been posted on the bulletin board. Miguel Tejada (batting third) and Travis Ishikawa (batting ninth) were looking at it. Ishikawa to Tejada: “Third? I thought that was for the best hitter on the team. What are you doing hitting third?” Tejada to Ishikawa:”Not hitting ninth.”

It’s been written several times already, but seeing Pablo Sandoval up close really brings home how much damn weight he has lost. He doesn’t merely look good for a fat guy. He looks good. And it’s not just fat. His shoulders and arms are fairly awesome. And it may or may not be worth noting that he love, love, loves to sing aloud and dance some to his iPod.

Tim Lincecum is starting today. He came in with a pony tail, wearing a vaguely Asian-looking sweatsuit/pajama thing and carrying an iPad in a battered leather holder. It was all very zen. How anyone’s iPad holder can be as battered as his so soon in the product’s life is a mystery to me. I can’t decide if Lincecum takes it rock climbing or if he pays a premium to some trendy boutique that pre-weathers iPad holders for well-heeled customers.

A TV was on in the little room where players were eating breakfast. A report of Adam Wainwright‘s Tommy John surgery came on. Players watched the report silently. There was no singing and celebration. I just thought I’d get out in front of that one in case Hal McCoy is hanging around here and heard it differently than I did.

For reasons I can’t really explain I watched Barry Zito stretching on the field. I feel obligated to note that he seems able to stretch his arm and shoulder way more than the other players can. This is important. This means something.

The best thing of all this morning? The grills are fired up here in the ballpark. Beer is being dispensed. There’s a mediocre cover band committing atrocities of 1970s classic rock hits out on the concourse. It’s on, babies. A real baseball game between two teams. In a little bit over an hour, pitches will be thrown in anger.

Why do anything as attention-grabbing as smoke herbs when you can pick and chew cactus buttons? He can dip them in red and yellow and green food coloring and no one will be able to tell them from Skittles. You just have to hope he doesn’t walk around barefoot on the field because of all the invisible horned toads. All the Jints need to start off the season is for Lincecum to go on the DL with a plantar tendon puncture. These little monsters are serious stuff. Look here:

Thanks for the tip on the cactus buttons…..I now have some shopping to do this weekend and it’s looking like my cubicle imprisonment will be a little happier next week…….sure beats hurling peote back up

I second that…maybe he’s bigger than I think, or maybe Tejada is smaller than I think, but I assume that Miggy would be a full head taller and probably 60 pounds heavier than Ishikawa. He’s got some balls!!!!

seriously, it’s a great feeling…coming back to spring training…with that swagger. man, those guys deserve to be laid back…play some grateful dead, re-enact scenes of “dazed and confused” with timmy playing mitch.